NAIROBI, Kenya - There have been major casualties in a tragic bus crash in western Kenya.

At least fifty five people, including 9 children, died in the crash, which occurred after the driver of the bus apparently lost control of the vehicle and it left the road and rolled down a slope before colliding with a wall on Wednesday.

An official on Wednesday described the crash scene as horrific, and said the entire roof of the bus had been torn off.

"The information we have is that the driver lost control," Kericho County police commander James Mugera was reported aas saying by The Associated Press.

"I felt the bus swerve from one side to the other and then I found myself in the middle of nowhere," passenger Joseph Obonyo told The Associated Press.

"There was a body near me and people were being thrown out of the bus, flying out of it like airplanes, and where we were thrown that was it. I am only able to say that God saved me and I am truly thankful."

There were reportedly fifteen survivors of the crash.

The bus reportedly was on its way to the town of Kakamega in the west of Kenya. It had departed earlier from the Kenyan capital, Nairobii.

Investigators later told media the bus was unlicensed to travel at night, and the proprietor of the bus company would be charged.

"It is very unfortunate what has happened and action will be taken," regional traffic police chief Zero Arome said Wednesday.